Nurses argue that the new ratios would improve safety and patient care at the state’s hospitals. Under the proposed system, nurses working in more acute environments, such as the ICU, would be limited to two patients, whereas nurses in the emergency room would see four patients at a time, according to the report. Nurses say that higher staffing rates would cut down on infection risk and bed sores, which can prolong stays and increase costs.
Florida nurses are looking to follow California’s lead; the state passed similar legislation in 2004. California’s new ratios have received mixed reviews, and some studies say that more nurses at patient bedsides have not reduced length of stay or adverse events in hospitals, according to the report.
The nurses face opposition from hospital executives, who say that adding more nurses is not cost-effective. According to the report, California’s experience could support the hospitals’ argument, as the ratios have been blamed for increasing costs and wait times in the ER.
Read the Times’ report on Florida’s nurse staffing ratios.
